Flash lamp



Jan. 18, 1949.

H. T. HlPWELL EI'AL FLASH LAMP Filed May 20. 1946 IuvIIIlIIIIIIIQ l l I l I Lf Snamm $71 T. N www mrM n Z A KE, Y Mms \m\ [NN Patented Jan. 18, 1949 Pittsburgh, Pa. 'f' ...applications/.lay 2o, 194s, `sriaiuae71p9s y 101mm. (01.240140166) Our invention relates to flash lamps of the* hand type, wherein battery cells are employed for energizing a lamp, and particularly to those of the fixed-focus type wherein the reflector is adjusted to the proper focus, at the factory, with no adjustment thereafter by the user.

In lamps of this type, it has been common practice to rigidly support the reflectors at their forward extremities. In case of shocks or blows that deform the forward end of the lamp casing or its cap, even to the extent only of 1254 of an inch, the reflector is frequently displaced to such extent as to destroy the lamp focus.

Our invention has for its object the provision of a flash lamp structure of such arrangement that damage to the forward end of the lamp casing or its cap such as occurs through engagement with extraneus objects either when in the hands of the user or when in a tool box, will not so distort or shift the reflector relative to the lamp bulb as to displace it from its focused position.

Briefly stated, our invention comprises means for so mounting a reflector that there is clearance between its .foremost edge and the lens and other adjacent members, whereby slight damage to the forward end of the casing or cap will not disturb the focused positionof the reflector.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure shows a longitudinal sectional view of a flash lamp casing with certain of the parts enlarged, to more clearly show details of their structure and arrangement.

The lamp structure comprises a tubular case 2 which may be of. non-conductive fibrous material or other suitable non-conductive material. The case contains battery cells 3 in the usual manner and an electrically-conductive strip II. At the rear end of the case, there is a metal sleeve 5 having an inturned flange 6, tightly fitting around the case, the flange 6 having electrical engagement with the strip 4. A metal sleeve 'I has snug fitting engagement with the forward end of the casing 2. A metal cap 9 has threaded engagement with the sleeve 5.

A switch plate or base I2 is secured to the casing 2 by rivets VI3 and III, the rivet I3 serving l to also hold the strip 4. A switchmember or button I5 is slidably-supported on the plate I2 and has a leg I6 extending through a slot in the plate I2. A movable switch contact member I1 is rigidly secured to the leg I6 and is movable with the button I5.

The cap member Il has an annular groove I8 -to^receive and isupportL peripheral edges'of a" lens I9 and a supporting shell 2l that carries a lampsupporting sleeve 22 which has a circumferential depression at 2U for receiving and snugly fitting the adjacent edges of the shell 2l and a reflector 23. The foremost edge of the sleeve is upset or riveted, to hold the reflector and shellA tightly on the sleeve. The parts II, I9, 2|, 22 and 23 are thus all firmly held in unitary relation and with the foremost surface of the reflector in spaced relation to the lens I9 and out of engagement with the shell 2l, as shown at 24.

A lamp bulb 25 and its socket 26 are removably supported in the sleeve 22. To this end, the socket 26 has an annular flange 2 that closely ts the inner peripheral Wall of the sleeve 22 and seats against 'the grooved portion 26 thereof. A lamp base cap 28 of suitable insulating material fits snugly into rthe sleeve 22 and is frictionally held therein, against the rear side of the flange 21. A metal stud or studs 29 are provided in the bottom wall of the cap 28 in position to engage the foremost terminal of a battery cell 3. A spring 3l has engagement at its rear end with the stud 29, and at its forward end, engages the central terminal vof the lamp base,v to thereby not only afford electrical conductivity between the terminal 29 and the lamp base, but to yieldably hold the lamp in its seated position. The lamp base may have either frictional or screw-threaded engagement with the socket 26 and has the other of its terminals in electrical engagement with the socket 26 and its flange 21, the electrical connection being continued through the shell 2|, the

) cap II, the sleeve 'I and a switch stud 32.

Rubber protective caps 33 and 34 are provided for the front and rear ends, respectively, of the lamp structure and snugly fit the metal caps 3 and I I, respectively, so that these caps and their protective coverings can conveniently be unscrewed from the lamp casing 2. It is not essential, however, that these rubber coverings be present.

When a new lamp bulb is required, the forward cap II is unscrewed from the case, whereupon the shell 2| is lifted out of the case and the cap 28 of the lamp base can then be removed from the sleeve 22, to thereby permit withdrawal of the lamp socket 26 and the lamp 25 from the sleeve 22.

It will lbe seen that upon movement of the switch to close the circuit at the contact members I'I--32, a circuit will be completed from the rear ends of the battery cells 3, through a lspring 36, the cap 9, the sleeve 5, the conductor strip 4,

unitary relation with the cap, a reflector disposed within the shell, a `sleeve extending into the rear ends of the reflector and the shell and havinga groove which receives the adja'cent'- edges of the reflector and the shell, to thereby support the reflector, the sleeve having 4an interiorlyformed bead adjacent to the groove, a lamp socket having a shoulder seating against the bead and removable through the rear end of the sleeve, and

adapted to carry` a lamp `bulb which can be passed through the sleeve, and a cap insertable through the rear end of the sleeve, in circumferential relation to the lamp socket and with its forward end abutting the rear side of the said shoulder.

HARRY T. HIPWELL. HARRY H. HIPWELL.

l REFERENCES'C'ITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4Number Name Date 1,934,214 Stimson Nov. 7, 1933 2,219,906 Pummill Oct. 29, 1940 2,278,614 James Apr. 7, 1942 2,287,505 Wood June 23, 1942 2,304,433 Zimmer Dec.` 8, 1942 

